Three chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who previously served in the Osun State House of Assembly at different times, have resigned their membership of the party.
The lawmakers — Lekan Oyediran, Aleem Bakare and Folorunso Oladoyin — submitted their resignation letters to their respective local government chairmen of the party between June 1 and June 2.
While Aleem Bakare cited a lack of internal democracy as his reason for leaving the party, the other two did not provide specific reasons in their resignation letters.
Checks show that Oyediran represented Odo Otin State Constituency between 1999 and 2003, while Bakare served as lawmaker for Ejigbo State Constituency between 2003 and 2007.
Oladoyin represented Ife South State Constituency from 2011 to 2019 and later served as Commissioner for Education under the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola until the end of that government on November 26, 2022.
Bakare also previously served as Special Adviser to the governor on Land Matters in the Oyetola administration.
All three former lawmakers were reportedly linked to Senator Iyiola Omisore, former National Secretary of the APC, who has remained distant from the party since the conclusion of the party’s governorship primary in December 2025.
Reacting to the development, spokesperson for the Omisore Campaign Organisation, Jamiu Olawumi, confirmed that the former lawmakers were political associates of the ex-deputy governor.
However, he insisted that Omisore did not instruct them to leave the party, adding that their decisions were personal and based on political considerations.
Olawumi dismissed claims that Omisore himself was planning to defect from the APC, describing such speculation as unfounded.
“The anxiety is unfounded and baseless,” he said, adding that political associates were free to make independent decisions regarding their future in the party.
He further noted that political realignments were common following internal party contests, and that some members may choose to move to other platforms depending on their aspirations.
“Those who left are Oyetola’s men too,” he said, arguing that the defections reflected internal caucus dynamics rather than a coordinated political exit.
According to him, the departures should not be interpreted as a crisis within Omisore’s political structure or as an indication that the former deputy governor intends to leave the party.
Meanwhile, the Osun State APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said the party was not disturbed by the resignations, describing them as part of the normal exercise of democratic freedom of association.
He argued that the party had continued to attract prominent politicians from other parties, insisting that the recent exits were not significant enough to weaken its structure.
Olabisi added that the APC remained focused on strengthening its support base ahead of future elections.
“In a democracy, there is a free exit and free entry into politics,” he said.
He further claimed that the party had received more high-profile entrants, including former senators and representatives, than those who had recently left.
Party officials say they remain confident in the APC’s political strength in Osun State despite ongoing realignments within its ranks.
